Course & Grading System

Course Numbering

The course numbering system consists of a four-letter discipline abbreviation followed by a four-digit number. The first digit identifies the course level. The second digit generally identifies the semester credit hour value of the course. The last two digits are the distinguishing numbers of the course within the discipline.

5000 - master's level courses

6000 - doctoral level courses

7000 - medical didactic courses

8000 - medical clerkship core courses

9000 - medical clerkship elective courses

Grading System

All academic grades will appear on the student's official UNTHSC transcript as follows:

A 4 grade points for each semester credit hour

B 3 grade points for each semester credit hour

C 2 grade points for each semester credit hour

F 0 grade points for each semester credit hour

WF Withdraw Failing; 0 grade points

Designations and other symbols that do not earn grade points and are not used for the calculation of grade point averages are as follows:

P/NP Pass/No Pass

S/U Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

W Withdrawal

I Incomplete

PR In Progress

Z Grade not recorded

Calculation of Grade Point Average

Grades of A, B, C, F, and WF and associated semester credit hours will be used to calculate grade point averages. The GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of semester credit hours attempted. The number of semester hours attempted includes all courses with grades of A, B, C, F, and WF unless replaced by a later grade. Grades of I, NP, P, S, U, W, PR, or Z are not counted as courses attempted. All GPA calculations are subject to post audit and correction by the Registrar's Office.

Registration

Registration is coordinated by the Registrar's Office in cooperation with the school in which the student enrolls. Students should review their school-specific academic calendar for more information about registration dates. All students are required to login to their EIS Student Portal (http://my.hsc.unt.edu) to review their course schedule, make payment, and review holds that may prevent registration. Registration is coordinated by the Registrar's Office in cooperation with the school in which the student enrolls. Students should review their school-specific academic calendar for more information about registration dates. All students are required to login to their EIS Student Portal (http://my.hsc.unt.edu) to review their course schedule, make payment, and review holds that may prevent registration.

TCOM - Students will be preregistered by the Registrar's Office prior to the beginning of each academic term.

GSBS - Students in a cohort program will be preregistered by the Registrar's Office prior to the beginning of each academic term. All other students are required to register on-line. Information on how to register can be found on the Registrar's Office website.

SPH - Students are required to register on-line. Information on how to register can be found on the Registrar's Office website.

SHP - All PA and DPT students will be preregistered by the Registrar's Office prior to the beginning of each academic term.

SCP - Students will be preregistered by the Registrar's Office prior to the beginning of each academic term.

Adding and Dropping Courses

"Adding" and "Dropping" refers to the established procedure by which students add or drop one or more courses prior to the census date, but remain enrolled for the term. Students adding or dropping may be subject to additional tuition and fees or may be eligible for a refund. Additional fee assessments are due and payable when the change is executed. If the student is on a valid installment plan, the installment plan charges are adjusted accordingly. When a student drops a course, the course will not appear on the student's permanent record. Students should review their school's academic calendar for specific dates related to adding and dropping courses.

Full-time Enrollment/Classification of Students

Students admitted to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, or School of Health Professions are classified as graduate students.

A graduate student must be officially enrolled for a minimum of 9 semester credit hours in the fall or spring term or 6 semester credit hours in a summer term to be classified as full-time. A graduate student enrolled for less than 9 semester credit hours for the fall or spring or 6 semester credit hours for the summer is classified as part-time.

The maximum course load for a graduate student is 15 semester credit hours. Students registering for more than this maximum course load must have the consent of their advisor.

Certain exceptions are made to the minimum and maximum enrollment rules based on the program requirements of each school, and information about these exceptions can be found in the program-specific sections of this catalog.

Enrollment Verification

Enrollment certification/verifications are completed by the Registrar's Office. Enrollment certifications can only be provided for a term after the census date.

Course Cancellations

The University reserves the right to cancel a scheduled course upon evidence of inadequate enrollment.

Course Duplications

Course duplication and grade replacement policies can be found in the program-specific sections of this catalog.

Academic Probation and Suspension

Policies regarding academic probation and suspension can be found in the program-specific sections of this catalog.

Grade Changes

No grade except "I" can be removed from a student's record once properly recorded. Changes are not permitted after grades have been filed except to correct clerical errors.

Requests for error correction must be initiated within 30 days after the close of the semester for which the grade was recorded.

An instructor who believes that an error has been made in calculating or recording a grade may submit a request for grade change to the discipline chair and the dean using a Request for Change of Grade/Removal of Incomplete form available from the Office of the Registrar. For more information see policy number 7.127 within the policy website at www.hsc.unt.edu/policies/policieslist.cfm.

Grade Reports

The electronic grade report and academic standing are available online at my.hsc.unt.edu at the close of each term. If the grade report or the academic standing is believed to be in error, the student should contact the Registrar's Office within 30 days following the first class of the subsequent term.

Incomplete Grades

If a student, because of extenuating circumstances, is unable to complete all of the requirements for a course by the end of the term, the instructor may assign an incomplete (I) for the course. The student must arrange with the instructor to finish the course at a later date by completing specified requirements. These requirements must be entered on the grade roster by the instructor.

Incomplete grades must be changed to a permanent grade before the end of the grading period for the next term, or the grade will be automatically changed to an F.

Leave of Absence

Students are required to complete the "Leave of Absence" form in the Registrar's Office. If the student is currently enrolled, a withdrawal form must accompany the request for leave of absence. Students should review their school's section within this catalog for more information about leaves of absence procedures.

Official Communications

E-mail is considered the primary means of communication for our campus; therefore, students are expected to read their e-mail messages regularly. All new students are assigned an e-mail account at orientation. UNTHSC email is a secure portal that can only be accessed by the student. Students who do not check their e-mail accounts regularly are at risk of missing vital information relative to their academic programs.

Although e-mail is the primary method of communicating information to students, mail may also be received at the campus mailing address. Any communication from a Health Science Center office should be considered important and given immediate attention. In addition, news, events and announcements of interest to students may be posted on the institution's website.

Public Information Act

The university has established policies relating to the accessibility of student education records in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The UNTHSC FERPA policy statement appears in its entirety in the UNTHSC Policy Manual, policy number 7.113. Information not covered by the FERPA will be released only in accordance with the policy on public information found in policy 5.516 of the UNTHSC Policy Manual. Requests for public information must be made in writing. http://www.hsc.unt.edu/policies/Policieslist.cfm.

Policies

Policies and regulations are explained and available on the UNTHSC Policy website or printed in the Student Policy Handbook or in the UNTHSC Policy Manual, available in Human Resource Services. All policies are subject to change throughout the year.

Student Grievances

Academic Issues

A student seeking to resolve any academic problem or complaint other than for misconduct as provided by the Student Code of Conduct and Discipline will first seek solution through the following administrative channels, entering at the appropriate level and proceeding in the order stated: course instructor, course director, graduate advisor, department chair, and assistant dean. The dean, at his/her discretion, may convene an ad hoc committee to review the case to assist in the resolution of the complaint. Recommendations from the assistant or associate deans or ad hoc committee will be forwarded to the dean for consideration. All decisions by the dean concerning academic matters are final.

Conduct Issues

A student seeking to resolve any issue involving misconduct as provided for in the Student Code of Conduct and Discipline at www.hsc.unt.edu/policies/policieslist.cfm should follow procedures outlined in said code.

Other Issues

A student seeking to resolve any problem or complaint other than for misconduct as provided by the Student Code of Conduct and Discipline at www.hsc.unt.edu/policies/policieslist.cfm or an academic issue, will normally seek resolution through the appropriate office on campus designated to address the particular student concern. Examples include: issues involving matters of sexual harassment, discrimination, disability, employment or mistreatment fall under institutional policies which are handling by specific offices such as Human Resource Services or the Equal Employment Opportunity Office.

Enrollment Status During Grievance/Appeal

A student who has filed an official appeal of a sanction of expulsion, suspension, or administrative withdrawal, may request to remain in classes, clinical clerkship rotations, and/or internships during the period of appeal until or unless one or more of the following circumstances is determined by the Senior Student Affairs Officer (non-academic issues) or the Dean (academic issues) of the respective school in which the student was enrolled:

1. The appeal has not been made according to officially recognized procedures for appealing an expulsion, suspension, or administrative withdrawal decision.

2. The presence of the student in classes, clinical rotation, or internship constitutes a disruptive influence to the educational process or to patient care activities.

3. The presence of the student potentially presents a threat or harm to the health, safety or welfare of patients, students or anyone associated with the educational process.

Summons/Notice of Complaint

In the event a student's conduct or behavior is alleged to be in violation of a published policy or regulation, a summons may be issued.This is an official request that the student appear before an administrator. It is always important and must have the student's immediate attention. Failure to answer/appear may result in disciplinary action.

Syllabi

Students should receive a syllabus no later than the second class meeting of any course. Syllabi will not be distributed for courses in laboratory techniques, individual research, internship practicum, thesis, or dissertation. All other courses must provide students with syllabi that include the following information as appropriate to the course: required texts, examination dates, lecture topics and assignments for each class meeting, attendance policy, course objectives, explanation of how grades will be determined, and information on contacting the course director.

Temporary Visa Holders

Students holding temporary visas are responsible for maintaining status with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). All visa restrictions and regulations regarding enrollment, employment and visa renewal must be followed exactly as determined by the USCIS. For assistance with visa issues, please contact the International Student Services Office at 817-735-2780.

Withdrawal from UNT Health Science Center

A student may withdraw from the Health Science Center at any time prior to the deadline published in the Academic Calendar by making a request in the Office of the Registrar. The student must complete the Withdrawal Clearance form. For withdrawals processed by the relevant deadline, the grade of W is recorded for each course in which a withdrawn student was enrolled. After this date a withdrawn student receives a grade of W only for those courses in which he/she was passing at the time of withdrawal; otherwise, the grade of WF is recorded. Official dates and deadlines for withdrawing are specified in each school's academic calendar.

Note: Students receiving financial aid also must contact the Office of Financial Aid before dropping a class or withdrawing. Students receiving financial aid may be required to go through an exit interview with a financial aid counselor before they are permitted to withdraw.

Withdrawal for Active Military Service

If a student withdraws because of a call to active military service, the university, at the student's option, shall:

Refund the tuition and fees paid by the student for the term in which the student withdraws;

Grant a student, who is eligible, under the institution's guidelines, an incomplete grade in all courses by designating "withdrawn-military" on the student's transcript; or

As determined by the instructor, assign an appropriate final grade or credit to a student who has satisfactorily completed a substantial amount of coursework and who has demonstrated sufficient mastery of the course material.